Montreal Canadiens: Riley Kidney, Jared Davidson, Miguel Tourigny Lead Laval Rocket To Preseason Win

The Montreal Canadiens are in the midst of four off days in the exhibition schedule. While we wait to see their final preseason game of the year on Saturday night, the Laval Rocket got their schedule underway yesterday.

The Rocket played the first of their two exhibition games ahead of the 2023-24 season when they took on the Toronto Marlies in an afternoon affair. It was the Rocket that would come out on top, and a couple of young forwards led the way offensively.

It was Nathan Legare, the Canadiens prospect acquired from the Penguins in the Erik Karlsson/Jeff Petry/Casey DeSmith trade who got the Rocket on the board first. The Rocket were on a power play and Miguel Tourigny worked the puck to Riley Kidney who fed it down low to Legare who was at the side of the crease. He took the puck to the net and jammed it home to give the Rocket a 1-0 lead.

The Rocket power play struck again early in the second period and it was Tourigny and Kidney who set it up for the second time. This time Kidney moved the puck up to Tourigny who was quarterbacking the power play. The right shot defenseman took a stride to the middle of the ice before sliding a pass across to Jared Davidson who hammered home a one-timer from his off wing.

The Marlies pulled within one with a power play goal of their own in the second period, but the Rocket man advantage struck for a third time in the third period. This time Kidney set things up again and Davidson finished the play for the second time. Kidney drew lots of attention as he cut through the slot with the puck then slid it to a wide open Davidson who ripped a one-timer but was stopped. Jan Mysak nearly knocked in the rebound as the Marlies goalie struggled to get into position and then Davidson drove the net after his shot and put the puck in the top shelf.

Jakub Dobes played the first half of the game and stopped all 13 shots he faced. Strauss Mann came on in relief and turned aside 19 of 20 shots fired his way.

The Rocket play their second and final preseason game on Sunday afternoon against the Belleville Senators before kicking off their regular season next Friday, October 13th. If these Rocket can continue scoring on the power play, we may see a few of them called up to coach the Canadiens man advantage in the near future.

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